Gas and liquid storage device



Filed July 2, 1932 INVENTOR; oH/v H. W/GG/NS BY ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE 17 Claims.

This invention relates to devices of the kind that are used for storing or holding gases and volatile liquids, and particularly, apparatus of the type in which the gas space or chamber of the device comprises or is provided with a flexible metallic wall or portion that is adapted to flex in a direction to vary the volume of said space.

One object of my present invention is to provide a gas or liquid device of the same general design as the device which forms the subject-matter of my pending application for Patent Serial No. 506,240, filed January-1V 2, 1931, which is constructed in a novel manner that results in a considerable increase in the capacity of the device without increasing the diameter of the device and the quantity of metal used in the construction of same, thereby reducing the area of the ground space required for the erection of thedevice and also reducing the cost of the same.

Another object is to provide a device of the same general type or kind as the device described in my pending application previously referred to, which is of such construction that the peripheral portion of the device which permits bodily movement of the flexible top wall, is reliable in operation and is capable of flexing or moving in a manner to greatly increase the cubic foot volume of the gas space without liability of being injuriously strained, due to flexing or, in fact, subjected to a strain in excess of that imposed on the flexible top wall of the gas.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a device of the type previously referred to, that is equipped with a novel drainage means of simple design and inexpensive construction for carrying off rain water or snow Water from the top side of the device. Other objects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

The device that forms the subject-matter of my pending application for patent previously referred to is provided with a storage space or chamber of the breather type, that comprises a stationary bottom, a top wall formed by a metallic diaphragm that is adapted to flex outwardly or upwardly away from said bottom, dueto the upward pressure exerted on said top Wall, by the gases in the gas space, thereby increasing the volume of the gas space, and a flexible peripheral portion that joins said stationary bottom to said flexible top wall and which is adapted to ilex and move in such a Way as topermit bodily movement of said top wall, and thus further increase the volume of the gas space. When the medium stored in the device is being withdrawn,

said exible top wall and said flexible peripheral portion resume their -former shape or condition, and in so doing, cause thegas space to change from a space of relatively great volume to a space of little volume or of zero volume, depending upon the shape or form that is imparted to said parts or elements during the operationof erecting the device. In the device described in my said pending application for patent the bottom of the storage space or chamber is formed, by a metallic 6i diaphragm that has a stationary central portion and a flexible peripheral portion that provides for the bodily upward movement of the top wall of the gas space. The bottom diaphragm is mounted on a frame or supporting structure that imparts asubstantially concave shape or form to the bottom diaphragm, and the top diaphragm that constitutes the exible top wall ofthe gas space, is so constructed and combinedV with the bottom diaphragm that when the device is empty or substantially so, the top diaphragm assumes a downwardly flexed condition and rests upon and is sustained throughout the major portion of its area by the bottomdiaphragm. During the operation of admitting the medium to be stored, B0 the top diaphragm ilexes upwardly away from the bottom diaphragm and assumes a.A sbstan tially convex shape or formQjust the reverse from its former shape, thereby causing the volume of the gas space to be automatically increased. As 35 the admission of the medium being stored is continued the peripheral portion of the bottom dia.- phragm flexes and moves in a manner to permit the top diaphragm to bodily move upwardly away from the central stationary portion of the bottom diaphragm, and in s'doing, increases the volume of the gas space. In order to eliminate injurious strains that might be created if the internal pressure were relied upon solely to effect the upward flexing of the peripheral portion of the bottom diaphragm, a means such as counterweights or vany equivalent apparatus `is preferably employed to assist the upward flexing of the peripheral portion of the bottomdiaphragm during the operation of admitting the medium being stored. V

The device or apparatus that forms the subject-matter of my present application operates on the same principle as the device just described and has a gas space that is always maintained under a positive pressure, and which comprises a'ilexible top part, 'an opposed bottom part, and a flexible peripheral portion on said bottom part that is adapted to flex and move in a manner to increase the distance between the top and bottom parts during the operation of admitting the medium to be stored. The flexible peripheral portion of the bottom part, however, is of different construction and is so designed that when the device is empty or substantially so, said peripheral portion is inclined downwardly at an opposite angle to the central portion of the bottom part to which it is attached. Consequently, when the medium to be stored is being admitted to the device, the downwardly inclined peripheral portion of the bottom part will flex or move upwardly a distance equal to the downward pitchl or inclination of said peripheral portion, plus the distance said peripheral portion is capable of moving upwardly, until the slack in same is taken out, with the result that a material increase in the cubic foot volume ofthe gas space is obtained without increasing the areaof the ground space required to erect the device, without materially increasing the quantity of metal required to form the gas space, and without liability of subjecting the component parts of the device to injurious strains. I have herein illustrated my invention embodied in a gas holder, but I wish it to be understood that many features of my present invention are applicable to tanks and similar devices that are used for storing or holding volatile liquids.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a vertical transverse sectional view of a gas holder constructed in accordance with my present invention, showing ,the holder filled with gases.

Y Figure 2 is avertical transverse sectional view of said holder when it is empty, or when the flexible top wall of the gas space assumes a downwardly iiexed condition and rests upon the bottom diaphragm of said storage space; and

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view, illustrating the preferred method of constructing or erecting the holder. n

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates the preferred form of my invention, A and B designate the top and bottom parts, respectively, of the device, herein illustrated as consisting of two opposed diaphragms, each of which is constructed from a` plurality of metal plates joined rtogether by gas-tight joints in such a manner as tov produce a substantially imperforate limber sheet, said diaphragms being preferably arranged in thel position shown in the drawing, with the top diaphragm A disposed directly over the bottom diaphragm B. The peripheral edges of said diaphragms are attached by gas tight joints to an annular shell C that is disposed vertically, and the bottom diaphragm B is provided with a flexible peripheral portion B' that assumes a downwardly pitched or downwardly inclined position, as shown in Figure 2, when the holder is empty, and an upwardly-inclined position, as shown in Figure 1, when the holder is full. The central portion of the bottom diaphragm that lies within or is surrounded by said exible peripheral portion B', is stationary and is sustained by a supporting frame of any preferred construction, that is erected on the ground and preferably made of such form that the central stationary portion of the `bottom diaphragm B will be of substantially concave shape. A gas pipe D is provided through which gases are admitted to and withdrawn from the storage space between the diaphragms A and B, and inthe form of my invention herein illustrated said gas pipe D is attached to the bottom diaphragm B at a point some distance inwardly from the peripheral edge of same. The holder is also provided with a pressure relief valve E of any preferred type or kind, herein shown as being mounted on the top diaphragm A at the center of same, and constructed so that when the top diaphragm A flexes and moves upwardly to a certain approximate position, the valve E will open, and thus automatically relieve the pressure in the gas storage space, the actuating mechanism for said valve E being herein illustrated as consisting of a chain, cable or other flexible element 1 that is attached to the stationary central portion of the bottom diaphragm B.

The supporting frame on which the central portion of the bottom diaphragm B rests may be of any preferred or suitable construction. It is herein illustrated as being composed of annular rows of supporting posts 2, 3 and 4, and circular beams 5 and 6 attached to the supporting posts 3 and 4, respectiveb'. The supporting posts 2 that are arranged at the extreme peripheral edge of the bottom diaphragm may be stationary posts, but the posts 3 and 4 are preferably so constructed that they can be adjusted or raised and lowered for a purpose hereinafter described. Usually, the innerrow of posts 4 will be associated with fillers or blocks 4* thatcan be inserted or removed so as to vary the height of said posts, and the intermediate row of posts 3 will also be associated with fillers or blocks 3a that can be inserted or removed to vary the height of said posts. Concrete footings 7 are preferably provided for the supporting posts above referred to. If desired, the holder may be equipped with a means to assist the movable peripheral portion of' the structure to move upwardly during the operation of admitting gases to the storage space, the means herein illustrated for this purpose being like-that shown in my pending application for patent previously referred to and composed of counterweights 8 attached by chains or cables 9 to arms l0 that project laterally from the peripheral portion of the holder, said chains or cables 9 passing over pulleys 11 carried by uprights l2. The holder is provided with a novel drainage means for removing rain water or snow water from the top side of the diaphragm A, consisting of a flexible drain 13 attached to the top diaphragmA and leading from the top surface of same, a sump 14 inthe bottom diaphragm B adapted to receive condensate that forms in the gas storage space and constructed so as to receive the flexible drain 13 when the holder is empty, an outlet conduit 15 into which the drain 14 discharges, formed preferably by a concrete lined ditch in hydraulic gradient extending from the sump 14 to a point beyond the outer edge of the holder, andan inverted syphon 16 for draining accumulated liquid out of the sump 14 and still maintaining a gas tight seal, the flexible drain 13 extending through the side wall of the sump. Usually, the sump 14 will be provided with a platform 17 for holding the flexible drain 13 out of engagement with the bottom of the sump when the holder is empty.

In constructing or erecting the holder it is preferable to use temporary beams .r in conjunction with the posts 2, 3 and 4, and the circular beams 5 and 6 previously referred to, for sustaining the diaphragms during the process of fabricating the same and attaching the diaphragms to the annular shell C. Figure 3 shows the position in which the top diaphragm A, the bottom diaphragm B and the shell C are placed during the operation of welding or attaching together the plates from which said elements are formed. After said plates have been welded together, then the bottom diaphragm B has its shape changedslightly to decrease the volume of the gas storage space when the vholder is empty. This result is attained by moving the posts 3 upwardly more or less, for example, 6 inches, and by lowering the posts 4, as shown in Figure 2, the posts 3 being raised by inserting blocks Ila between the lower ends of same and the concrete footings 'l and the posts 4 being lowered'by removing the blocks 4 shown in Figure 3. At the same time the temporary beams or supporting members .r are removed, with the result that both diaphragms will assume a different shape or form from that shown in Figure 3, the change in the shape of the diaphragms being such as to decrease the volume of the gas storage space when the holder is empty.

By referring to Figures 2 and 3 it will be noted that the flexible peripheral portion B of the bottom diaphragm B, instead of being disposed in substantially the same plane, or at substantially the same angle as the central portion of said bottom diaphragm, is pitched downwardly or'inclined downwardly at an opposite angle to the slope or pitch of the central stationary portion of the bottom diaphragm, the downward pitch of said flexible peripheral portion B' being substantially the same as the upward pitch of the top diaphragm A when the holder is empty. Consequently, when gases are admitted to the storage space of the holder, the flexible peripheral portion B of the bottom diaphragm will rise, first, the distance that it is pitched downwardly, which movement will bring it to a substantially level position. Said flexible peripheral portion B has enough slack built into it so that it can rise farther, until the slack is taken out, which will be theoretically the former position of the top diaphragm A before it started to rise. In a gas holder of the construction above described the pressure in the gaa storage space increases, during the admission of the gases, until said pressure equals the weight of thetop diaphragm A. Said top diaphragm then flexes upwardly until it assumes an upwardly flexed condition, at which time the pressure in the gas storage space starts to increase, whereupon the peripheral portion of the holder slowly starts to rise, due to the upward flexing of the peripheral portion B of the bottom diaphragm, and as the pressure increases more and more, the peripheral portion of the holder rises more and more, until the volume controlled valve E is opened automatically by the upward movement of the top diaphragm A. As previously explained, a diminution in the internalY pressure of the gas space causes the diaphragms or parts constituting the storage space, to flex or move in such a way as to automatically reduce the volume of the gas space.

My improved gas holder above described will operate successfully without the use of counterweights 8 or a similar means to assist the upward movement of the peripheral portion of the holder, providing the internal pressure is considerably greater than. the actual weight of the top diaphragm. For example, suppose that the overall diameter of the holder is 140 ft.; that it is constructed from metal plates having a thickness of 1/8 of an inch; that the annular shell C is 4 ft. high and that the posts 2 are set inwardly 15 ft.'from the edge of the holder. In such a holder the component parts of same will assume approximately the position shown in Figure l, under a pressure of 2.55 inches of water, whereas, the actual weight of the top diaphragm is onlyA 1 inch of water. This is not an excessive pressure. In case it is desired to increase the height of the shell C, the flexible peripheral portion B' of the bottom diaphragm must be sloped inwardly farther, and such a change in construction may necessitate or make desirable the use of a counterweighting mechanism or equivalent means to compensate for the added weight of the shell C and to assist the peripheral portion of the structure to move upwardly during the operation of admitting gases to the storage space.

I consider the device herein illustrated as being a decided improvement on the device illustrated in my pending application for patent previously referred to, in that it is of such design that the capacity of the device can be greatly increased without adding much to the cost of same and Without increasing the areavof the ground space required for the erection of the device. It has the added advantage of simplicity, certainty of operation, and maintaining the flexing of the bottom diaphragm within safe limits. In my present device both of the diaphragms flex theoretically the same amount, but nevertheless, the peripheral portion of the device is capable of moving upwardly rand downwardly from a horizontal plane, and rising a much greater distance than the peripheral portion of the device described in `my said pending application. Whereas, in a gas holder of the construction illustrated in my said application I generally estimated a gas rise of about l ft. for the peripheral portion in a gas holder having a diameter of approximately 100 ft.. 11g I estimate a rise of approximately 4 ft. in a holder of the construction herein illustrated. In a holder of approximately 200 ft. diameter of the particular construction disclosed in my said pending application, I estimated a rise of from l ft. tc-

k11/2 ft. for the peripheral portion of the holder.

but in myimproved holder herein illustrated the peripheral portion of the holder can safely rise 51/2 ft. or more. From the foregoing it will be seenthat although the device herein illustrated may be said to be distinguished from the device illustrated in my said application, simply in the use of a vertically-disposed shell at the peripheral edges ofthe diaphragms, and in theuse of a bottom `diaphragm provided'with a flexible peripheral portion that is pitched downwardly when the device is empty, nevertheless, these additions add greatly to the commercial utility of the device by making it more reliable in operation; by increasing its capacity and by reducing its cost.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to vsecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device of the kind referred to, provided with a storage space or chamber constructed of 135 metal, said chamber having a bottom that comprises a peripheral flexible area which is inclined downwardly in a direction away from the center of the device, said flexible .area being capable of moving upwardly so as to permit the periphery 140 and the top of the device toA rise, due to the upward pressure exerted on said top by the gases in the gas space.

2. A device of the kind referred-to, having a storage space or chamber of the breather type that is under a positive pressure during the operation of admitting and withdrawing the stored medium, a downwardly inclined top for said chamber that is adapted to flex upwardly to increase the volume of said chamber, and a flexible 150 part at the periphery of the bottom of said chamber, disposed at a downwardly inclined angle opposite to the downward inclination of said top and adapted tomove upwardly so as to permit said top to move bodily relatively to the bottom of said chamber.

3. A device of the kind referred to, having a storage space that comprises a limber top wall that is adapted to ex upwardly to increase the volume of said space and downwardly to decrease the volume of said space, and a flexible portion at the periphery of the bottom of the storage space inclined downwardly in a direction away from the center of the device and adapted to flex upwardly so as to permit said top wall to move bodily.

4. A device of the kind referred to, having a storage chamber that comprises top and bottom portions, said top portion consisting of a limber sheet that is adapted to flex in a direction to vary the volume of said chamber and said bottom portion having a limber peripheral part that is inclined downwardly and outwardly from the center of the device when the holder is empty, and which is adapted to move upwardly more or less according to the pressure exerted on same bythe gases in the storage chamber.

5. A device of the kind referred to, having a storage space that comprises a side wall shell, a bottom having a substantially concave shaped stationary central portion, and a top wall formed from a limber metal sheet, `said bottom comprising a flexible peripheral portion that is pitched downwardly in a direction away from the central portion of the bottom when the device is empty and which is adapted to move upwardly more or less for the purpose described during the operation of admitting the medium to be stored.

6. A device of the kind referred to, having a storage space provided with a flexible top wall, said device vhaving a 'bottom provided with a flexible portion that is inclined downwardly and away from the center of the device when the device is empty and which is adapted to move into an upwardly inclined position so as to permit said top wall to move bodily relatively to the bottom of said storage space due to the pressure'which gases in said storage space exert on said top wall.

7. A device of the kind referred to, having a storage space of the breather type, constructed from metal plates, said storage space being provided with a bottom having a flexible` peripheral portion that slopes downwardly from a horizontal plane, said peripheral portion being adapted to move upwardly through said plane, into an upwardly inclined position so as to permit the top of the holder to rise bodily. f l

8'. A device of the kind referred to, having a storage space or chamber constructed from metal plates, said chamber havinga'bottom that comprises a downwardly inclined central portion that is stationary, and a flexible peripheral portion that is inclined downwardly at an opposite angle to said central portion when the device is empty.

.9. A device of the kind referred to, having a storage space or chamber of the breather type, constructed from metal plates, said chamber comprising a exible top wall, an annular side wall, and a bottom having a stationary central portion and a flexible peripheral portion that is pitched downwardly relatively to said central portion when the device is empty.

10. A device of the kind referred to, having a storage space or chamber formed by two limber metallic diaphragms arranged in opposed relation and an annular shell attached to the peripheral edges of said diaphragms, and means for supporting the bottom diaphragm in such a way that the peripheral portion of said bottom diaphragm has a natural tendency to pitch downwardly in a direction away from the center of the device, said peripheral portionibeing adapted to fiex upwardly and downwardly relatively to a horizontal plane, substantially as described.

11. A device of the kind referred to, having a storage space or chamber formed by two limber metallic diaphragms arranged in opposed relation and an annular shell attached to the peripheral edges of said diaphragms, and means for supporting the bottom diaphragm in such a way that the central portion of said bottom diaphragm assumes a substantially concaved shape and the peripheral portion of said bottom diaphragm will assume a position in which it is inclined downwardly away from the center of the device when the device is empty, said peripheral portion being adapted to move upwardly more or less according to the upward pressure which gases in the storage space exert on the top diaphragm.

12. A device of the character referred to, comprising two limber metallic diaphragms arranged in opposed relation, the bottom diaphragm having a stationary central portion and a flexible peripheral portion that is inclined downwardly away from the center of the device when the device is empty, an annular shell attached to the peripheral edges of said diaphragms, and means for maintaining said diaphragms in their predetermined shape when the device is empty.

13. A device of the kind referred to, having a storage spaceA or chamber provided with a bottom that comprises a stationary downwardly inclined central portion and a movable downwardly inclined peripheral portion disposed at opposite angles to each other, said peripheral portion being adapted to flex upwardly during the operation of the medium to be stored, a side wall shell attached to the outer edge of said flexible peripheral portion, and a flexible top wall attached at its peripheral edge to the top edge of said side wall shell.

14. A device of the kind referred to, having a storage space or chamber provided with a bottom formed by a limber metal diaphragm, and an adjustablesupporting structure for sustaining said bottom diaphragm and causing the peripheralportion of same to assume a downwardly pitched position relatively to the central portion of said diaphragm.

15. A device of the kind referred to, having a storage space provided with a bottom that comprises a stationary central portion of substantially concave form, a iiexible top wall formed from a limber metallic sheet that is adapted to rest on said central portion when the device is empty, an annular side wall shell attached to the peripheral edge of said top wall, and a downwardly and outwardly inclined, flexible portion at the periphery of said bottom, attached to the bottom edge of said side wall shell and constructed so as to be capable of flexing upwardly and downwardly from a horizontal plane so as to permit said shell and top wall to move bodily upwardly, due to the pressure which gases in the storage space exert on said top wall. y

16. A device of the kind referred to, having a storage space or chamber that comprises a top wall formed by a metal diaphragm that is adapted to flex upwardly and downwardly to vary the to :dex upwardly and downwardly to vary the volume of said chamber, a bottom for said chamber that serves as a support for said top Wall when the device is empty, a flexible drain that leads from the top surface of said top Wall, a stationary conduit into which said exible drain discharges, a sump on said bottom for receiving said exible drain when said top wall is resting upon said bottom, and an inverted syphon which connects said sump with said stationary conduit.

JOI-1N H. WIGGINS. 

